Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

self help

How Is Your 2020 Foresight?

By

This On-Purpose Minute originally aired on January 5, 2010, at the turn of a new decade. Today in October 2015, let’s do a follow-up check-up on how life is looking (up?) for you. The lessons from this OP Minute still remain — except 2020 is less than 5 years away!

Short-term vision or thinking often distracts us from focusing on what really matters most to us. What would it be worth to you to clarify what is most meaningful to you? Would you invest 60 minutes of your life today to set a more clear course for the next 5 to 10 years? It seems so minor an investment for so much to gain, yet we’re often “too busy” with the non-important to define what truly matters.

Give yourself a strategic advantage by knowing what matters most. Download The Discovery 6a00e551c6499c883401116842213b970c.jpg.jpgGuide, my free tool designed to help create want lists and tournaments. It is superior to typical goal setting tools because it helps you gain laser focus. Improve your time management and your personal life improves. It isn’t too late to plan today for your 2020.

Original post in 2010!

A new year brings a rebirth of possibilities. What then does a new decade bring? Let’s look ahead to 2020 to plan what can be. Too often I find myself looking a day, a week, or even a few months, but too rarely ten years ahead. The calendar change to 2010 offers a natural opportunity to peer into the future and plan what could be.

Looking for some guidance? At On-Purpose Partners we have coaches trained in the On-Purpose® Process who can help you. Whether you need an hour or a defined program to help you, know that we’re here. Explore here.

Are You Setting Goals?

By

This is a classic On-Purpose Minute that first aired in August 2010 so the September offer regarding The On-Purpose Leader Experience is out of date. Alternatively, consider reading The On-Purpose Person and downloading the free preview to The Discovery Guide.

Another option is On-Purpose Peace, a six-session, small group study for Christians reading The On-Purpose Person. 

Goal setting is really the poor man’s way of doing strategic planning. Guess what? For about 95% of what you want to accomplish, writing out your goals will get the job done. If you want to take something to the next level, however, you’ll need to invest in strategic thought and planning. Otherwise, you’ll remain mired in mediocrity.

Research shows that as few as 1% to as many as 10% of all people write down their goals. Why not more people? Here are some of the excuses I’ve come up with. What’s your reason for not setting goals?

  1. I don’t have time to write goals.
  2. I’m not really sure that’s where I’m supposed to focus my effort and energy.

    Marine Institute Ireland, Strategic_Planning_S...Image via Wikipedia

  3. If it is meant to be, then it will happen.
  4. Goal setting is a waste because my goals never come into being.
  5. Who am I to set goals?
  6. No one else I know sets goals.
  7. I don’t know how to write a goal.
  8. What if I don’t reach my goal?
  9. What will other people think? They might think I’m crazy.
  10. I have too many goals to write them down.
  11. I don’t believe my goals can be realized or are realistic.
  12. Goals don’t motivate me.
  13. Goals are too basic for what I need to get accomplished.

Behind every rationale for not setting a goal is a tragic assault on hope and possibilities fed by irrational thought. OK, so maybe you don’t have Killer Goals; that’s still no reason for not learning the process and getting started. In fact, set that as your first goal.

Lose the Excuses, Gain Your Sanity.

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin

 

Are You A Leader?

By

Yes, you are a leader! There is no question that you are a leader and that you are called to be improving as a leader. Over the years, however, truly talented people hold themselves back simply because of their attitude toward leaders and being a leader. Take a look at the headlines below in yellow. Ask yourself, “Which am I?” Then read the appropriate section for you.

“I am not a leader.”

If so, now is the time to change that misperception! That, by the way, is exactly what it is—a mistaken identity or view of yourself.  

This classic On-Purpose Minute addresses the fallacy of “I’m not a leader.” It is just that: a lie and label which you neither need to carry nor wear any longer. Remarkably, you have leadership skills and qualities that are dormant and underdeveloped waiting to be brought forward. You two-word purpose statement begins the process of being on-purpose.

“I am a leader.”

Leaders are learners and readers. Not only do you step up to the responsibilities of being a leader, you welcome the chance to learn and improve. It may have taken you years to get to this place in your life, but you found you’re making progress.

The On-Purpose Leader Experience will accelerate your leadership development and growth unlike any leadership program or course you’ve ever attended. By starting at the heart of your heart—your purpose—you will have a solid core and confidence to know who you are.  

Who is bringing out the leader in you? 

May I? Today, we’re starting another 6-week cycle of The On-Purpose Leader Experience. There’s a money back guarantee so all you have to invest is your time. We’ve never had an unsatisfied participant in 20 years of offering this content in a classroom or online.

Please visit The On-Purpose Leader Experience website and learn more about becoming a stronger personal leader of your life. Do this and you will more readily develop and improve in every area of life. 

The On-Purpose Leader Experience: $197 per person / $297 per couple

Be my guest to preview webcast 1 on Oct. 30 at 3:05 P.M. Eastern USA.

Click here to be taken to the 45-minute Preview Webcast

The On-Purpose Leader Experience: Session 1 Replay

By


OPLeaderimage "What am I going to do when I grow up?" 

It is funny
when we say it, yet the price of not really knowing who we are as
grown-ups is needlessly expensive to every aspect of our lives.

I
get it!  You're stretched to the max and burdened under more
commitments than you have time.  Life is wrapped so tight, that you're
not sure where to begin with making your life make sense.

Now, you
can test drive The On-Purpose Leader Experience which is based on
The On-Purpose Person.  Listen and watch the replay of the introductory webcast by CLICKING HERE.   You will be taken to
the replay page.   Be sure to click on "SLIDES" in the upper left hand
corner so you can watch and listen.

The program includes five
remaining webcasts, replays, and web site support.  Enrollment for
this series ends: Tuesday, June 1, midnight. 

Experience what it means to be on-purpose and to be in a community of on-purpose persons in creation.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

What Might You Miss?

By

For the longest time you've promised yourself you would work the
process in The On-Purpose Person, right?  But you haven't!  Today you make good to yourself on your promise.

Join me for The On-Purpose Leader, a six-week
experience in being on-purpose that can transform your life.  Here's your
chance to do right by yourself.  You will:

  • Clarify and organize your life around what matters most
  • Write your statements of purpose, vision, missions, and values
  • Gather, mix, and mingle with other On-Purpose Persons
  • Gain membership to a 24/7 private web group supporting your journey
  • Ask questions of Kevin on conference calls and in forums and
    discussion groups
  • Have a workbook with everything you need to work the process

Register
Here For Session One.  It is free and no credit card is
required for registration.   You will need to be registered in order to
get passwords emailed to you for both the live session and the replay. 

Enroll today in the full six-week experience and take advantage of the early bird savings (use code: EARLYBIRD28).  Enroll with a friend and your investment is $1.80 each per day!  Click on Enroll
today,  scroll down, and look for the Companion Special (2 persons for only $150). 

Register
Here For Session One.  It is free and no credit card is
required for registration.  You will need to be registered in order to
get passwords to both the live session and the replay.

Related
articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

The On-Purpose Leader Teleseminar Replay

By

86"What am I going to do when I grow up?" 

It is funny when we say it, yet the price of not really knowing who we are as grown-ups is needlessly expensive to every aspect of our lives.

I get it!  You're stretched to the max and burdened under more
commitments than you have time.  Life is wrapped so tight, that you're
not sure where to begin with making your life make sense.

Now, you can test drive The On-Purpose Leader program which is based on The On-Purpose Person.  Listen and watch the replay of the introductory broadcast by CLICKING HERE.   You will be taken to the replay page.   Be sure to click on "SLIDES" in the upper left hand corner so you can watch and listen.

The program includes four remaining teleseminars, replays, and web site support.  Enrollment for this series ends: Wednesday, March 10, midnight. 

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Striving for Life Balance

By

Striving for balance is a crazy-making, pointless waste of your time, effort, and emotional energy. Attempting to live up to “the balanced life” standard only heaps on lumps of guilt and disappointment, along with a gnawing sense of low-grade failure. Living with the glass half full in a pessimist’s paradise, despite your hope, optimism, and desire for improvement.

The problem is epidemic. Our entire culture has so accepted the myth that balance in life is the accepted norm for what makes for a successful life. Well, perhaps, having tons of money is the even bigger myth. So behind materialism for confusing our concept of the ideal life is this idea of balance.

I’ve known for decades that this kind of thinking was erroneous, yet the point was driven home to me in the spring of 2006. I was an in-studio radio show guest on Lee & Friends hosted by Lee Brandel on AM 950 WTLN in Orlando, FL. When I shared my perspective on work-life balance, here’s what Lee had to say:

“Thank you! In twenty years of interviewing, you are the first guest to ever tell my listeners and me to stop trying to balance our lives! What a refreshing and insightful thought. I am relieved.”

Is it any wonder why we when we feel so blue and down about ourselves that we run to Starbucks for a java jumpstart for the burned-out battery of our souls? We’re putting together life’s puzzle with flawed instructions and paying the price in every aspect of our lives and careers.

For too many years, you’ve had the wool pulled over your eyes by legions of work-life gurus and coaches. These “experts” have also bought the lie. They’ve unquestioningly mimicked what they heard and merely accepted the pursuit of work-life balance as a greater truth and aspiration. Just because a lie is repeated, doesn’t make it true. Yet the idea of balancing your work commitments and family obligations is so cemented in our culture that it is given universal truth status.

I’m a self-help heretic on this topic. I’m telling you there’s no sense in pursuing work-life balance. Open up your life to a new possibility where you’ll get higher dividends for all of your effort and energy with no risk of failure.

It’s like a man who spent his entire life staring at the corner of a towering wall. He’s master of its every nuance and built a good life being a wall looker. He lives in a safe and secure place that’s his home.

Then I come along, turn him around, and say, “Look what’s been behind you the whole time! There’s a garden, mountains, the ocean, and a horizon that stretches as far as the eye can see. You can go to these places or turn back around to your corner wall world.” I urge him, “Please step with me to these new places, experiences, and adventure of a lifetime.”

He answered, “But I’ve never experienced any of what you’re describing. It can’t be for real. It is all just an illusion.” He turns around to continue living his safe and secure life at the corner wall.

Don’t be a wall watcher any longer.